FILE PHOTO: A worker assembles an engine for a Mercedes-Benz S-class model at the Daimler Powertrain plant in Bad Cannstatt, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues near Stuttgart, Germany, April 22, 2020. REUTERS/Andreas Gebert

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The Daimler-BAIC joint venture’s view on the Chinese auto market this year is “moderately positive” based on its April sales performance, the partnership’s CEO said on Wednesday.

CEO Arno van der Merwe made the comments during a visit to the Beijing Benz Automotive Co’s plant.

He declined to comment on whether the joint venture will revise its 2020 sales target and said production had returned to normal levels after it had been affected by coronavirus containment measures.

Reporting by Yilei Sun in Beijing and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Editing by Tom Hogue